Clothespin



Dec. 6, 1938. .1. M. MERWITZ 2,139,455

CLOTHESPIN Filed March 18, 1957 INVENTOR- LZIMMMQEWZ ATTOREYS Patented Dec. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESPIN James M. Merwitz, Troy, N. Y.

Application March 18,

9 Claims.

'I'he invention aims to provide a clothes pin of simple construction which will lock effectively in operative position to prevent either the pin or the article held thereby from being loosened accidentally with respect to the lirie, and which may be readily applied to and detached from operative position. Further objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in they description hereinafter contained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, discloses a clothes pin constructed in accordance with the invention; such disclosure, however, should -be considered as merely illustrative of the invention in its broader aspects. In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a side View of a clothes pin constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 lis a side View showing the pin as it appears when rotated about a longitudinal axis 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is also a side View but showing the pin as it appears when similarly rotated through a lesser angle from the position shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

'I'he invention is illustrated as applied to a clothes pin having a longitudinal open ended slot therein, the inner portion I whereof is preferably of substantially the same width as in conventional split Wooden clothes pins; in fact the general over-all dimensions of the present pin may be in all respects substantially the same as in the conventional wooden pins above referred to. The open end portion 2 of the slot above mentioned is directed askew with respect to the inner portion thereof, in other Words what may be called the central longitudinal plane of the inner slot portion l, is directed angularly with respect to the central longitudinal plane of the outer slot portion 2, as appears most clearly in Figs; 4 and 5, and preferably the outer slot portion 2 flares toward the open end of the pin as shown in Fig. 3.

The slot above mentioned divides the pin into opposed prongs 3 and 4 which in the preferred form of the invention as illustrated, are similarly (although reversely -or complementarily) constructed. As shown, the prongs or tongues 3 and 50 4 are provided with internal shoulders 3a and 4a respectively, which are interposed between the inner slot portion I and the open end slot portion 2 of the slot. The shoulders above mentioned preferably are of reduced thickness respectively toward the opposite side edges of the slot, and

1937, Serial No. 131,591

in the preferred form of the invention said shoulders 3a and 4a extend only part way across the prongs respectively from opposite side edges of the latter. In other words, as shown in Fig. 5, the shoulder 3a is relatively wide or thick at the 'side edge of the prong 3 which appears at the top of the figure, but tapers down (as indicated at 3d) to Zero before it reaches the lower side edge of prong 3; and conversely the shoulder 4a t is relatively wide at the side edge of prong 4 which appears at the bottom of Fig. 5, but tapers in width or thickness (as indicated at 4d) toward the side edge of the prong 4 which appears at the top in Fig. 5. The .result is that the opposed shoulders 3a and 4a are widest respectively at the opposite side edges of the prongs, and that there is no shoulder or substantially none, at the portion 3b of prong 3 which is opposed to the widest part of the shoulder 4a, while conversely there is no shoulder at the portion 4b of prong 4 which is opposed to the widest portion of the shoulder 3a. Preferably the prongs 3 and 4 are provided with notched portions 3c and 4c just inside of the shoulders 3a and 4a, to enlarge the slot somewhat at this point and provide inclined walls which converge gradually in an inward direction, back to the inner portion of slot l. In the usey of the pin, the latter and the article to be suspended from the clothesline, may be connected to the line just about as easily as with the conventional split wooden pins, although in the specific form of invention which has been described, the pin will twist slightly about a longitudinal axis when it is forced over the line, but not enough to injure the article to be suspended, or interfere with proper attachment. In normal use the clothesline may be forced in betweenthe prongs 3 and 4 somewhat beyond the shoulders 3a and 4a, i. e. into the inner portion l of the slot, although if desired the line may rest upon the shoulders 3a and 4a. In the latter event these shoulders will prevent the pin from shifting upwardly so as to releasethe clothes from the line, or if the line has initially been inserted further into the slot, as above described, Vthe pin can work upwardly only to such limited extent as brings the line against the shoulders 3a and 4a. This limited movement will not be sufiicient to release the goods being suspended from between the pin and the line and thus the goods Will be effectively held in position under circumstances Where, due to conditions such as strong Wind or heavy weight of the goods they (and the pin) might otherwise become accidentally detached.

The pin may be removed from the line by either a pulling or a rocking movement or a combination of both, and it should be noted that at neither side edge of the slot is the line clamped between opposed sharp shoulders; in other words, at one side edge of the slot the relatively wide shoulder 3a is opposed by a relatively smooth longitudinal surface 4b on slot 4, which latter does not oppose substantially either a sliding or a rocking motion of the pin with respect to the line, and the same is true: of the longitudinal Ysurface 3b which is` opposed to the wider portion of the shoulder 4a. Accordingly the pin may be removed without applying excessive force, and with reduced likelihood of tearing the goods, as is likely to happen if opposed shoulders extending ,uniformly across the prongs should be employed. The notched portions 3c and 4c where employed are also advantageous in facilitating a rocking movement of the pin to detached position, since their inclined walls, when the pin is rocked with the line in engagement with them, tend to spread the shoulders 3a and 4a in such manner that the line can readily slide along one of the surfaces 3b and 4b beyond vthe shoulders 3a and 4a to a freely detachable position. The above notched portions 3c and 4c permit the adjacent portions of the clothesline to move easily in an inward direction along them (spreading the prongs as above mentioned) in contrast with the shoulders 3a and 4a which normally check outward movement of the clothesline quite abruptly. Thus without yundue friction or binding the `pin can be rocked to spread the shoulders and facilitate removal of the: pin without injury to the goods. In the embodiment of the invention which vis above described, the pin will twist slightly about a longitudinal axis while being withdrawn, Abut not enough to interfere with the operation .of detaching the pin.

While a specific embodiment of the fconstruction embodying the invention hasbeen described, it should be understood that changes may be made therein without departing lfrom the invention in its broader aspects Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clothes pin having a longitudinal slot therein provided with an inner portion and an outer open ended portion, spaced prongs on -opposite sides -of said slot, the said prongs being provided with opposed internal shoulders which are interposed .between the aforesaid inner and open end portions of the slot, the inner wall portions of the prongs which are respectively adjacent `said shoulders being notched to provide inclined Walls inside the said shoulders which converge gradually in an inward direction to the inner portion of the slot.

2. A clothes pin having Aan open ended longitudinal slot therein and spaced prongs on opposite sides of said slot, the open end portion of said slot being directed askew with respect to the inner portion thereof, and said prongs being provided with opposed internal shoulders which are interposed between the aforesaid inner and open end portions of the slot, the inner wall portions of the prongs which are respectively adjacent said shoulders being notched to provide inclined walls inside the said shoulders which converge gradually in an inward direction to the inner portion of the slot.

3. A clothes pin having a longitudinal slot therein provided with an inner portion and an outer open ended portion, spaced prongs on 0pposite sides of said slot, at least one of said prongs being provided with an internal shoulder interposed between the aforesaid inner and open end portions of the slot, the inner wall portion of the prong which is provided with said shoulder being notched inwardly of said shoulder to provide an inclined Wall inside said shoulder which converges gradually in an inward direction to the inner portion .of the slot.

4. A clothes .pin having an open ended longitudinal slot therein and spaced prongs on op- .posite sides of said slot, the open end portion of said slot being directed askew with respect to the inner portion thereof, and said prongs being provided with opposed internal shoulders which are interposed between the aforesaid inner and open end portions of the slot, the shoulder portions of said prongs being reduced in thickness respectively toward the opposed side edges of the slot.

5. A clothes pin having an open ended longitudinal slot therein and spaced prongs on opposite sides of said slot, the Vopen end portion of said slot `being ydirected askew with respect to the inner portion thereof, and at least one of said prongs being provided with an internal shoulder interposed'between the aforesaid inner vand open end portions of the slot, the aforesaid shoulder being of reduced thickness toward one sideedge of the slot.

6. A clothes pin having an open ended longitudinal slot therein and spaced prongs on opposite sides of said slot, the open end portion of said slot being directed askew with respect to the inner portion thereof, and said prongs being provided with opposed internal shoulders which are interposed-between the aforesaid inner and open end portions of the slot, said shoulders extending only part way across the prongs respectively from opposite side edges of the prongs.

7. A clothes pin having an lopen ended longitudinal slot therein and spaced prongs on opposite sides of said slot, the open -end portion of said slot flaring toward the end thereof and being directed 'askew with respect to the inner portion of ythe slot, said prongs being provided with opposed internal shoulders which are interposed between the aforesaid inner and open end portions of the slot, the shoulder portions of vsaid prongs being of reduced thickness respectively toward the opposite side edges of the slot, and the inner wall portions of the prongs which are respectively adjacent said shoulders being notched to .provide inclined walls inside o'f said shoulders which converge gradually in an inward direction to the inner portion of the slot.

8. A clothes pin having an open ended longitudinal slot therein and spaced prongs on opposite sides of said slot, said prongs being provided with opposed internal shoulders which are interposed between the inner and open end portions of the slot, the shoulder portions of said prongs being of reduced thickness respectively toward the opposite side edges of the prongs.

9. A clothes pin having an open ended longitudinal slot therein and spaced prongs on opposite sides of said slot, at least one of said prongs being provided with an internal shoulder interposed between the inner and open end portions of the slot, said shoulder being of reduced thickness toward one side edge of the slot.

JAMES M. MERWITZ. 

